CLEVELAND, Miss. — The Delta State University women's swim and dive team turned in a strong performance Friday at the 2026 Magnolia Invite, collecting multiple event victories and several top finishes throughout the meet at the Ronald G. Mayers Aquatics Center.
The Lady Statesmen opened the meet with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Nicolette Wight,
Chloe Skelt,
Kennedy Cleasant and
Olivia Murphy touched first with a time of 1:45.56. Delta State's B relay of
Mazie Finch,
Hanna Persson,
Ella Berg and
Audrey Lemoine also posted a runner-up finish in 1:51.87.
Rhianna Foster captured the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:39.17, while teammate
Stella Newton finished second in 11:13.61 to give the Statesmen the top two spots in the event.
Murphy added another individual victory in the 200-yard freestyle, winning the event in 1:56.88.
Delta State continued its success in the backstroke events. Wight won the 100-yard backstroke in 58.96, followed by Cleasant in second at 59.64 and Finch in fifth at 1:04.30. Wight later claimed the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:11.03.
Skelt posted a pair of victories, taking first in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:06.25 before winning the 50-yard freestyle in 25.72. Persson finished second in the 100 breast at 1:07.06.
Foster added another individual win in the 100-yard freestyle, touching in 55.34, while Berg placed fifth in 57.41.
In the 200-yard breaststroke, Persson led a one-two Delta State finish, winning in 2:26.53 ahead of teammate Lemoine, who finished in 2:29.76. Murphy added another victory in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:28.45.
Cleasant also picked up an individual victory in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing in 58.23, with Berg taking second in 1:00.51. Lemoine closed out Delta State's individual event wins by capturing the 200-yard individual medley in 2:14.65, while Newton finished third in 2:21.10.
The Lady Statesmen capped the meet with another relay victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Cleasant, Finch, Wight and Murphy combined for a winning time of 1:40.06, finishing ahead of William Carey.
Delta State returns to action with momentum from a meeting that featured victories across freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, individual medley and relay events.
Delta State will continue the 2026-27 season on the road next Saturday (Oct. 3) as they head to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on the Crimson Tide from the University of Alabama.
